This week we honored teachers. The names and stories shared were touching. And then a post from my star pupil who has just become a citizen. Next week, one of my laziest and most beloved students will house sit because I can't think of a better pair of caretakers for two aging cats than he and his sweet wife (who discovered Jane Austen!).
I know other teachers will echo this...we go along doing what we do, never really knowing what the outcome will be. We've all lost students to neighborhood gunfire, turf wars and wrecks. There have been a couple of overdoses and at least one suicide. And then there is the one who decided that there is another world out there and took herself to the community college to get started finding her place in it. And the ones who check up on us to make sure our marbles haven't rolled completely out of the house and down the block. There are the ones who challenge us to keep teaching them. We have some that have granted us familial status...we are auntie, mom, uncle, dad, gramps.....
So here is a twist on the thank a teacher thing: Thanks, kids. Thanks for making all that anguish, stress, worry - the endless, pointless faculty meetings and struggles with an administration hell bent on deterring us from teaching you what you really need to learn - thanks for making it all worthwhile. You might be a ne'er-do-well on so many levels, but seeing you parked in the cafe, reading? Priceless. Nah, you aren't a surgeon or shyster lawyer...you go to work for the hated TSA, but by golly, your sentences are perfectly written and you know how to think for yourself while collecting that necessary paycheck. It took you a while to find yourself, but so what? I'm not sure I have and lookit how old I am?!
Bottom line: you made me crazy worrying about you, but I'm so glad I had that time with you. You enriched my life. Stick around....you're old enough to drink now and you can text your friends that I dropped the f-bomb. The fun is just starting!
I know other teachers will echo this...we go along doing what we do, never really knowing what the outcome will be. We've all lost students to neighborhood gunfire, turf wars and wrecks. There have been a couple of overdoses and at least one suicide. And then there is the one who decided that there is another world out there and took herself to the community college to get started finding her place in it. And the ones who check up on us to make sure our marbles haven't rolled completely out of the house and down the block. There are the ones who challenge us to keep teaching them. We have some that have granted us familial status...we are auntie, mom, uncle, dad, gramps.....
So here is a twist on the thank a teacher thing: Thanks, kids. Thanks for making all that anguish, stress, worry - the endless, pointless faculty meetings and struggles with an administration hell bent on deterring us from teaching you what you really need to learn - thanks for making it all worthwhile. You might be a ne'er-do-well on so many levels, but seeing you parked in the cafe, reading? Priceless. Nah, you aren't a surgeon or shyster lawyer...you go to work for the hated TSA, but by golly, your sentences are perfectly written and you know how to think for yourself while collecting that necessary paycheck. It took you a while to find yourself, but so what? I'm not sure I have and lookit how old I am?!
Bottom line: you made me crazy worrying about you, but I'm so glad I had that time with you. You enriched my life. Stick around....you're old enough to drink now and you can text your friends that I dropped the f-bomb. The fun is just starting!
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